Scars from Oct. 7 fuel deep divisions over Netanyahu ahead of Israeli election

Why is the Oct. 7 attack at the center of Israel’s first election campaign since the attack?

The Oct. 7 attack dominates Israel’s first election since 2023 because it reshaped national security, politics, and daily life. The article calls it Israel’s worst security failure and says nearly every campaign poster, speech, and debate refers to it. Many voters remain personally affected by the violence.

The attack also provides the main argument for both political camps. Netanyahu’s opponents call his coalition the “massacre government” and blame it for failures that allowed the assault. Netanyahu’s supporters say the military establishment betrayed him and argue that he led Israel’s recovery. The debate therefore centers on responsibility, not just policy.

The election is effectively a referendum on Netanyahu. He is the only senior Oct. 7 figure still in office after security officials resigned. Losing on Oct. 27 could end his career, while winning would represent a major political comeback. The attack will continue shaping demands for accountability and reconstruction.

What was the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack, and how did militants enter Israel?

The Oct. 7 attack was a large Hamas-led assault on Israel that began with several thousand rockets. Thousands of militants then crossed into Israeli communities and military areas. The attack shocked Israel because it breached defenses that had been considered strong and exposed a major security failure.

Militants used several routes. They opened holes in the border fence and moved through them by land. Others arrived by boats or motorized paragliders. This combination helped the attackers penetrate from multiple directions and overwhelm border defenses. The assault killed about 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages.

Its consequences extended far beyond that morning. Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza and later fought Hezbollah in Lebanon. It also attacked targets in Yemen and joined the United States in wars against Iran, according to the article. Oct. 7 remains central to Israel’s election because its failures and consequences are still unresolved.

How many people were killed or taken hostage on Oct. 7, and how many Palestinians and Israelis have died in the wars that followed?

The Oct. 7 attack killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, according to the article. Those figures describe the immediate human cost of the Hamas-led assault. The attack then triggered a much wider regional conflict with an even larger death toll.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities cited by the article. The offensive also left Gaza in ruins and caused an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. The article does not provide a precise total for Palestinian deaths beyond saying they exceed 74,000.

Hundreds of Israelis have died in the wars that followed, mostly young soldiers. Nearly every Israeli household has been touched by the violence, the article says. Because the Israeli figure is not exact, it should not be presented as a specific number. These losses help explain why security, responsibility, and the war’s outcome dominate the election.

What could happen to Benjamin Netanyahu’s political career if he loses the election?

Benjamin Netanyahu’s political career is directly tied to the election’s result. The article says a defeat on Oct. 27 would likely end the career of the soon-to-be 77-year-old prime minister. That possibility makes the vote more than a routine change of government. It is also a judgment on his leadership during Israel’s worst security failure.

Netanyahu’s opponents argue that failures under his government allowed the attack to happen. They call his outgoing coalition the “massacre government” and say he must accept responsibility. Netanyahu’s defenders present a different record. They say the military establishment betrayed him and that he guided Israel through a dramatic rebound after its darkest hour.

A victory would therefore be a major political comeback. Netanyahu has defied opponents for three decades, and winning could preserve his leadership despite the attack, regional wars, and international criticism. A loss would likely bring a new government focused on inquiry, reconstruction, and institutional repair.

Who are Netanyahu’s main opponents, and what changes do they promise if they form a government?

Netanyahu’s opponents come from across Israel’s political spectrum, with former military chief Gadi Eisenkot identified as his chief rival. Eisenkot brings personal wartime loss to the campaign: his son and nephew were killed in battle in Gaza. The opposition frames the election as a choice between accountability and continued evasion.

If they form a government, opponents promise a program of “repair and reconstruction.” Their first major step would be creating an official commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 failures. They also want to end draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox religious men. That policy has angered many secular Israelis during wartime, when military service demands are high.

The opposition further accuses Netanyahu of threatening Israel’s democratic institutions. Its proposed changes would therefore address both security failures and domestic political strain. Whether these promises become government policy depends on the election result and the opposition’s ability to form a coalition.

What are the two competing explanations for Israel’s security failure before Oct. 7?

The article presents two competing explanations for Israel’s security failure before Oct. 7. Netanyahu’s opponents say the government failed in its central duty to protect citizens. They want him and his coalition held responsible for the warning and preparedness failures that preceded the deadliest day in Israel’s history.

Netanyahu’s defenders offer the opposite explanation. They say he was betrayed by the military establishment, rather than being primarily responsible for the breakdown. They also point to what they describe as a dramatic rebound under his leadership after the attack. This argument shifts blame away from the prime minister and toward security institutions.

The disagreement matters because it shapes the election’s basic question: who should pay for the failure? Netanyahu is the only senior figure from Oct. 7 still in office after several top security officials resigned. As a result, voters are deciding whether to punish his leadership or reward his wartime record.

What is an official commission of inquiry, and how can it help a democracy assign responsibility after a national disaster?

An official commission of inquiry is a formal investigation created by the state to examine a major failure. In this case, it would study what Israeli leaders, military officials, and security agencies knew before Oct. 7 and how they responded. Its purpose is to establish an evidence-based public record after a national disaster.

In general, such a commission can review documents, hear testimony, question officials, and trace decisions through the chain of command. It can identify missed warnings, poor coordination, or policy failures. It may recommend resignations, disciplinary action, institutional changes, or further legal proceedings. It does not automatically decide criminal guilt; courts handle criminal trials.

The opposition wants an Oct. 7 commission as the first step in “repair and reconstruction.” Its findings could assign political and institutional responsibility, rebuild public trust, and reduce partisan speculation. The election will determine whether Netanyahu’s opponents can create one and how broadly its investigation reaches.

Key Facts:

📌 Oct. 7 remains Israel’s defining political and security issue.

📌 Opponents blame Netanyahu; supporters blame the military establishment.

📌 The election could determine Netanyahu’s political future.

📌 Hamas-led forces fired several thousand rockets.

📌 Militants breached the fence, used boats, and flew motorized paragliders.

📌 About 1,200 people died and 251 were taken hostage.

📌 About 1,200 people were killed on Oct. 7.